Oakland Tree Removal Permit & Ordinance Guide

Alameda County, California

Verified

Protected Tree Definition

9.0" DBH minimum for protection

Coast Live Oaks 4+ inches DBH. Other species (except eucalyptus/Monterey pine) 9+ inches DBH.

Protected Species

Coast Live Oak (4 inch threshold). Exempt: Eucalyptus Acacia Monterey Pine Palm Privet

Heritage / Landmark Trees

Heritage Trees designated by Planning Commission.

Permit Requirements

Non-Development Tree Removal Permit for protected trees on public or private property.

Who can apply: Property owner or authorized agent with ISA Certified Arborist report

Required Report Sections

Species identification, DBH (Coast Live Oak 4+ or other species 9+ at 4.5 feet), health and structural assessment, justification for removal, photo documentation, replacement plan; protected-tree applications require ISA Certified Arborist findings

Replacement Requirements

1:1 minimum for protected coast live oak removal; replacement species and ratio for other protected trees set as a permit condition by the city arborist

Coast live oak replacements drawn from the approved native species list at 15-gallon to 24-inch box minimum sizing as set by city arborist condition; in-lieu fees to the Tree Replacement Fund accepted when on-site replanting is infeasible.

Fees & Fines

Processing Time

2-4 weeks

Required Certifications

ISA Certified Arborist report may be required

Municipal Code

Oakland Municipal Code Chapter 12.36

View full ordinance

Contact

Tree Services Division

(510) 615-5934

treeremovalpermits@oaklandca.gov

Nearby Cities in Alameda County

Berkeley Dublin Fremont Hayward

Other California cities

Anaheim Berkeley Carlsbad Palo Alto San Diego San Luis Obispo Santa Clara Simi Valley

See all California cities →

Compare with nearby cities

Data last verified: April 2026. This information is provided as a reference. Always verify requirements directly with Oakland before submitting permits or reports.

Ready to apply? How to apply for a permit in Oakland →

See California replacement obligations compared: How Oakland's replacement ratio ranks in California →

See California heritage criteria compared: How Oakland's heritage designation ranks in California →

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